EP1528025A1 - Folding assistance marks and method for determining the fold quality of folded products. - Google Patents

Abstract

The folding mark for identifying the intended course of folds (16-18) consists of additional lines representing tolerance limits for identifying a predetermined tolerance range in the region of the folding mark on a folded product (15). Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) Printing plate; and (B) Method for determining the folding quality of a folded product.

Description

The invention relates to a folding auxiliary mark and a method for determining the Folding quality on folded products according to claims 1 and 10.

It is well known to fold printed products after printing in a variety of ways. For example, center parallel, zigzag, winding or window folds are known.
In addition to the so-called register marks, to check whether the different mixed colors of an image have been printed exactly on each other, lines on a printing plate to illustrate the course of a fold line be attached to the finished product.
When setting up a new production, the operator can use the identification to determine whether the actual fold corresponds to the desired course (target profile). If this is the case, production can be started without further adjustment of the folding device. However, if the fold is next to the marking, it must be checked whether the fold is still within a specified tolerance. In this case too, production could start, provided that the product meets all other requirements (print quality, etc.). However, measuring the distance between the fold line and its desired course is complicated and requires some time. For products with several consecutive folds, each fold position must be measured and any necessary correction must be assigned to the correct folding device.

In folders whose folding setting can be set up in the "offline" mode, that is, folders that can be turned off after the production of a single folding product, although falls on a small waste quantity, but it may take a long time to the desired folding accuracy is set.
However, in the case of folding devices which have to be set in "inline" mode, that is to say at their full production speed, depending on the type of folding and the type of paper used, a large number of incorrectly folded products can be produced during the setting. This waste quantity increases the longer the setting of the correct folding position takes. The response time also depends essentially on how fast a Falzungenauigkeit can be detected.

The object of the invention is to provide a device and a method with the folding inaccuracies can be detected faster.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of Claims 1 and 10 solved.

By means of the folding auxiliary marking according to the invention, an operator can advantageously quickly visually recognize whether a fold lies within the predetermined folding tolerance or what quality a fold has. As a result, the folding accuracy of folders can be set much faster, so that the waste rate and / or the setup time is improved in an advantageous manner.
Particularly advantageous is the classification of Falzhilfsmarke invention with a stitch scale, with which directly on the product a measure of the deviation of a fold are read from its desired course.
By means of the folding mark according to the invention, the operator can also be advantageously informed of the associated adjusting mechanisms which are to be adjusted on the folding apparatus in order to eliminate the inaccuracy of the evaluated fold. In addition to the indication of which adjusting mechanism is to be adjusted, the folding mark according to the invention can additionally also indicate the direction of adjustment.
The folding mark according to the invention is particularly advantageous for products with multiple folds, which are folded directly after a previous printing process and whose folding quality must be set at full production speed.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the dependent claims in conjunction with the description.

Fig. 1

eine Druckplatte mit mehreren erfindungsgemäßen Falzhilfsmarken, die

Fig. 2

stellt mit dem Ausschnitt X aus Fig. 1 eine einzelne Falzhilfsmarke vergrößert dar, die

Fig. 3

zeigt ein Falzprodukt mit erfindungsgemäßen Falzhilfsmarken, die

Fig. 4

stellt mit dem Ausschnitt Y aus Fig. 3 eine erfindungsgemäße Falzhilfsmarke auf einem Falzprodukt vergrößert dar, die

Fig. 5 und Fig. 6

zeigen weitere erfindungsgemäße Falzhilfsmarken und die

Fig. 7

zeigt die Falzhilfsmarke aus Fig. 5 an einem Falzprodukt gemäß dem Ausschnitt Y aus Fig. 3.

Hereinafter, the features of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment. In the accompanying schematic drawings shows,

Fig. 1

a printing plate with a plurality Falzhilfsmarken invention, the

Fig. 2

represents with the cutout X of Fig. 1, a single Falzhilfsmarke enlarged, the

Fig. 3

shows a folded product with Falzhilfsmarken invention, the

Fig. 4

represents with the detail Y of Fig. 3, a Falzhilfsmarke invention on a folded product is enlarged, the

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6

show more Falzhilfsmarken invention and the

Fig. 7

5 shows the folding aid mark from FIG. 5 on a folded product according to the detail Y from FIG. 3.

By way of example, FIG. 1 shows a printing plate 10 with images 11 for a 16-page printed or folded product. This printing plate 10 can be clamped on a printing cylinder of a printing machine and transfers the images 11 by means of ink on a substrate. The printed product can be folded after printing in many ways. When processing printing material webs folders are provided directly at the web outlet from the printing press, with which the printing material can be folded and / or cut longitudinally and / or transversely.
The folding accuracy of folds on folded products is determined by the fold tolerance. The size of the folding tolerance is determined on the one hand by specifications of corresponding specialist groups of the trade associations and on the other hand can be determined by the quality requirements of the customer.
When setting up a new production, both the printing process and the folder must be readjusted in order to achieve the specified tolerances or qualities of the print and the folds. For this purpose, the printing press is started up and copies are taken from the product display and checked for quality. Depending on where deviations from the target values are detected, the settings on the respective adjustment mechanisms must then be corrected accordingly.
For folders which have to be adjusted due to dynamic influences at full production speed, depending on the type of folding and the type of paper, it is particularly advantageous to be able to quickly determine a measure of the deviations. For this purpose, according to the invention Falzhilfsmarken 5 are arranged on the pressure plate 10 between the individual pages or images 11, respectively at the points where folds are provided. These folding auxiliary marks 5 are applied to the printing material during the printing process and mark the desired course of a fold on the products.
In Fig. 2, a Falzhilfsmarke 5 is shown enlarged in the neck X of FIG. 1. The middle line 1 also known as folding mark 1, represents the desired course of the fold. With further lines 4, on both sides of the folding mark 1, the tolerance range is preferably marked. If the fold line runs between these tolerance limits 4, the fold corresponds to the required quality. The two-sided distances between the folding mark 1 and the tolerance limits 4 can be divided evenly in a particularly advantageous manner with graduation marks 3 and then embody a scale 2. The scales 2 can of course also beyond the tolerance limits 4 continue to be performed.
In addition to the tolerance limits 4, the folding auxiliary marks 5 may also contain other instructions for the operator. For example, an indication of the adjustment mechanism 6 may be provided. By the note "1st fold" the operator eg clarifies on which adjustment screw he has to correct on the folder. By marking with "+" (plus) and "-" (minus), the operator can be signaled whether the fold course is in the negative or positive range, from which he can refer to the adjustment direction 7, 8.
3 shows a folded product 15 in the form of a zig-zag fold with a first 16, second 17 and third fold 18. To evaluate the fold courses by means of the inventive folding auxiliary marks, the folded product 15 was unfolded again. The folds leave on the folded product 15 in the course of a folded edge in each case a line, so that the course of the folds on the unfolded folded product 15 is still visible.
The detail Y shows a printed on the substrate Falzhilfsmarke at the first fold 16 and is shown enlarged in Fig. 4. At the lateral edge of the folded product 15 is a Falzhilfsmarke 5 'with a folding mark 1' to identify the ideal course of the fold can be seen. Furthermore, on both sides of the folding mark 1 'the tolerance limits 4' printed on the folded product and the graduations 3 'of the scales 2'. As the illustration shows, the first fold 16 does not run through the fold mark 1 'but between the second and third graduations in the positive area. The operator can read off from the "+" sign that is the positive area, which is provided as an indication of the adjustment direction 8 '. From the reference to the setting mechanism 6 '"1st fold", the operator can see that he has to correct the setting on the folder at the first fold in order to achieve the ideal course.
Preferably, the distances of the graduations 3 'are tuned to the adjustment steps on the folder, so that the operator in the example shown, the first fold on the folder by 2.5 units can be adjusted to the minus in order to achieve the ideal course. Since the folding accuracy can change slightly from product to product due to external influences, it is expedient to evaluate several folded products. In the present example, one could also come to the conclusion to maintain the settings on the folder, as the folding accuracy is within the tolerance limits.
With lower demands on the folding quality, it may be expedient to dispense with the graduations 3, 3 ', and to mark only the tolerance range by the tolerance limits 4, 4'. The operator can then only determine whether the fold is within the specified tolerance and moves the folder only when tolerance is exceeded.
For easier detection of the folding process within the folding auxiliary mark, the lines or lines of the folding mark 1, 1 'and / or the tolerance limits 4, 4' can be made longer than those of the graduations 3, 3 '.
Of course, other dimensional standards may be provided instead of the scale shown. In Fig. 5, for example, a stepped pyramid is shown, which is provided on the first pocket of a Taschenfalzes. Depending on the stage by which the fold runs, the operator can read off how many units the fold deviates from its intended course and correct it accordingly on the folder. FIG. 6 shows the step pyramid from FIG. 5 inversely. Also on this material measure, a measure of the fold deviation can be read according to the invention.
FIG. 7 shows the detail Y from FIG. 3 in conjunction with the folding auxiliary mark from FIG. 5. As can be seen from the drawing, the fold runs approximately through the first step of the pyramid so that the operator can derive therefrom. that he has to adjust the folder about one unit.

Be in the intended course of a fold in the beginning area, in the final as well as in the middle area each provided Falzhilfsmarken, so it is also possible to detect an oblique fold.

An essential core of the invention is to determine the folding quality of folded products prior to folding to install Falzhilfsmarken invention, from which a measure of a fold deviation can be read directly. The Falzhilfsmarken mark the tolerance range by the specified desired course of a fold and are preferably as a - divided with dashes - Scale executed. After folding can on the folded product based on the course the fold line are read by the associated folding aid mark to which Measurement of the fold deviates from its desired course and an associated adjustment mechanism the folding apparatus are corrected.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 '

fold mark

2, 2 '

scale

3, 3 '

tick

4, 4 '

tolerance limit

5, 5 '

Falzhilfsmarke

6, 6 '

Note on adjustment mechanism

7, 7 '

Note on adjustment direction

8, 8 '

Note on adjustment direction

10

printing plate

11

image

15

folded product

16

First fold

17

Second fold

18

Third fold

Claims (10)

Falzhilfsmarke with a folding mark (1, 1 ') for indicating the desired course of a fold (16; 17; 18), characterized in that the predetermined tolerance range in the region of the folding mark (1, 1') by additional lines, the tolerance limits ( , is in 4, 4 '). Falzhilfsmarke according to claim 1, characterized in that the tolerance range by graduations (3, 3 ') evenly divided into a scale (2, 2'), from which directly on a folded product (15) a measure of the deviation of the fold (16 ; 17; 18) is readable from its desired course. Falzhilfsmarke according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lines of the folding mark (1, 1 ') and / or the tolerance limits (4, 4') are longer than that of the graduations (3, 3 '). Falzhilfsmarke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the folding auxiliary mark (5, 5 ') an indication of the adjustment (7, 8, 7', 8 ') on an adjustment mechanism (6, 6') is provided on the folder. Falzhilfsmarke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the folding auxiliary mark (5; 5 ') an indication of the associated adjustment mechanism (6; 6') is provided on the folding apparatus. Falzhilfsmarke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a scale (3, 3 ') on the scale (2, 2') of the folding auxiliary mark (5, 5 ') corresponds to the division of the associated adjustment mechanism. Falzhilfsmarke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the intended course of a fold (16, 17, 18) at least one Falzhilfsmarke (5, 5 ') is provided. Falzhilfsmarke according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding auxiliary mark (5, 5 ') is applied in the previous printing process. Pressure plate with at least one folding auxiliary mark (5, 5 ') according to one of the preceding Claims. A method for determining the folding quality of folded products, characterized in that prior to folding on the folded products (15) Falzhilfsmarken be attached with scales for direct determination of a measure of a folding deviation, the folding accuracy of the finished folded products (15) is evaluated based on the folding auxiliary marks and determined deviations are corrected to an associated adjustment mechanism of the folder.

Images